Xbox 360 Arcade officially $199
Microsoft announces game industry's worst-kept secret; 60GB model $299, 120GB elite $399 starting September 5.
After months of rumors, weeks of leaked retail flyers, and days of Japanese news, the Xbox 360 price drop is now officially happening in North America. As of September 5, the 120GB Elite will be $399, the new-ish 60GB 360--successor to the 20GB Pro--will be $299, and the hard-drive-less Arcade will be $199. The new price point makes the bottom-end model of Microsoft's console the cheapest current-generation console on the US market, undercutting the $249 Wii by $50.
"I'm not at a point where I can say we're going to beat Nintendo," Don Mattrick, senior vice-president of Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment division, told BusinessWeek. "[But] We will sell more consoles this generation than Sony." His sentiments were shared by IDC analyst Billy Pidgeon, who told the magazine, "I expect the 360 to remain in second place this generation. But it's going to be close."
IDC predicts 2008 will end with the Xbox 360 beating the PlayStation 3 in lifetime-to-date international sales, 27.7 million to 24.2 million, respectively. That feat is made less impressive, though, by the fact the Xbox 360 launched in November 2005--a year ahead of the PS3, which has been beating the 360 in monthly NPD sales. IDC has both consoles being drubbed by the Wii, which it predicts will have sold a staggering 44.5 million units by year's end.
584 Comments
Content you might like…
Users who looked at this article also looked at these content items.
Hot Stories
Newsmakers
-
Carmack on ZeniMax, Apple, and new 'triple-A' game
Q&A: id Software's technical guru explains shock buyout by Bethesda parent, talks about new project, and doubts the Mac-maker will enter the console wars; new wave of iPhone games explained in detail. Full Story
- Posted Jun 26, 2009 12:23 pm PT
- 169 Comments
-
Crosshairs Interview: Remedy Ent. on Alan Wake
We chat with lead writer Sam Lake at E3 2009 about Alan Wake. Full Story
- Posted Jun 29, 2009 1:04 am PT
Featured Stories
-
Starcraft II jettisons LAN support
Blizzard confirms anticipated sci-fi RTS will skip local multiplayer due to piracy, quality concerns. Full Story
- Posted Jun 30, 2009 11:45 am PT
- 936 Comments
-
28% of all console gamers now female - Study
Industry-tracking NPD Group reveals women flocking to Wii, hardcore gaming on decline, online gaming stagnate. Full Story
- Posted Jun 29, 2009 4:45 pm PT
- 499 Comments
-
Shippin' Out June 28-July 4: Call of Juarez prequel, Harry Potter
Ubisoft's Western shooter and J.K. Rowling's boy-wizard lead this week's retail charge along with Mega Man Star Force 3, Worms 2: Armageddon, The Punisher: No Mercy, Ice Age film game. Full Story
- Posted Jun 29, 2009 8:22 am PT
- 66 Comments
-
Obsidian, Sega confirm Aliens RPG 'no longer in development'
Developer breaks silence, confirms all work has ceased on sci-fi film-inspired role-playing project; publisher says there are "no plans to move forward" with the game. Full Story
- Posted Jun 26, 2009 4:31 pm PT
- 150 Comments
-
THQ reveals controller-based game for 2010
UFC publisher reveals first peripheral-specific title, claiming it will have a "competitive advantage" by being "different from anything else." Full Story
- Posted Jun 26, 2009 2:17 pm PT
- 144 Comments
Recent News
Site Blogs
-
Battlestations: Pacific DLC deploying in July
Battlestations: Pacific won the battle against critics when it debuted on the Xbox 360 and PC in May. And while it has yet to be seen...






BLuFAlc0n posted Sep 4, 2008 1:36 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)